NWPPA Morning Brief - Thursday, July 23, 2026

NWPPA Morning Brief — Thursday, July 23, 2026 In today's brief: Top Federal Developments All Five FERC Commissioners Testify Before Senate ENR on Reliability, Large Loads, and Agency Independence — https://www.wknofm.org/2026-07-22/federal-energy-regulatory-commission-testifies-at-senate-oversight-hearing House Committee Sends Ratepayer Protection Act and AI Data Center Cost Bill to Floor — https://energycommerce.house.gov/posts/the-house-committee-on-energy-and-commerce-advances-17-bills-to-the-full-house-of-representatives Daines, Murkowski, and Risch Introduce Hydropower Licensing Affordability Act — https://www.daines.senate.gov/2026/07/22/daines-to-ferc-reduce-red-tape-build-more-hydro-and-natural-gas/ Kaptur and Murray Allege DOE Diverted $350 Million in Carbon Capture Funds to Coal Program — https://carbonherald.com/lawmakers-accuse-doe-of-illegally-using-carbon-capture-funds-to-subsidize-coal/ Top Regional / State Developments SPP Issues Energy Emergency Alert Level 3 Across Five Western States — https://www.fox7austin.com/news/regional-electric-grid-operator-warns-rolling-blackouts-14-central-us-states Seattle City Light Council Adopts Higher Rates for New and Expanding Data Centers — https://www.kuow.org/governing/2026-07-22/seattle-approves-higher-electricity-rates-for-new-data-centers Lake Powell Sits 33 Feet From Minimum Power Pool, Could Break All-Time Low by September — https://apnews.com/article/2d30b7625db946a2cf61658567f62121 BC Hydro Commits $700 Million to Triple Public EV Charging to 3,500 Ports by 2035 — https://www.ccarbon.info/news/british-columbia-to-triple-public-ev-charging-network-with-3500-bc-hydro-charging-ports-by-2035/ AI and Large Load Demand Radar Donalds Bill Would Require Data Centers to Meet Power and Water Needs Privately — https://apnews.com/article/c8b93e8ca7e0b47bad7411b6d05717e0 National Laboratory of the Rockies Launches Agora Large-Load Test Bed — https://www.techbriefs.com/component/content/article/55508-nlr-introduces-agora-a-large-load-grid-integration-test-bed Pilot notice: AI-generated daily briefing. Verify before acting on it. Feel free to reach out if you have comments or concerns.